The Agusta AW 109 is a lightweight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter built by Anglo-Italian manufacturer AgustaWestland.
Developed as the A109 Agusta, it has been in continuous production for 40 years. The AgustaWestland AW119 is a derivative of the AW109, the main difference being that it is powered only by a single engine instead.
AW 109 . Helicopter Design and Development
In the late 1960s, Agusta designed the A109 as a single-engine commercial helicopter. It was soon realized that a twin-engine design was needed and it was redesigned in 1969 with two turboshaft Allison 250-C14 engines.
A projected military version (the A109B) was considered early but Agusta initially chose not to pursue development, concentrating instead on the eight-seat A109C version. The first of three prototypes made their maiden flight on August 4, 1971. The test phase of development flights was protracted, leading to the first production aircraft being completed nearly four years later in April 1975. Production deliveries of the A109s began in early 1976.
After its release, the aircraft soon became a commercial success, often being used for roles other than light transport; this includes air ambulance and search and rescue roles. In 1975, Agusta returned to a possible military version, so trials were carried out between 1976 and 1977 using a total of five A109As equipped with Hughes Aircraft TOW missiles. Two military versions emerged of the program, one intended for light attack/close support missions and the other for ship operations.
The Agusta A109 was renamed the AW109 following the merger of Finmeccanica SpA and its respective subsidiary GKN plc Agusta Westland Helicopters to form AgustaWestland. For various years, fuselages for the AW109 have been manufactured by PZL-Świdnik, which later became a subsidiary of AgustaWestland in 2010. In June 2006, the 500-plane was delivered by PZL-Świdnik, marking 10 years of cooperation on the AW109 between the two companies.
AW 109 Helicopter Operation History
In 1982 the Argentine Army deployed three A109As to the Falklands Islands. They operate with the Argentine Helicopter Fleet (9 UH-1H, 2 CH-47C and 2 pumas) in recconoisance and liaison roles. One of the helicopters is destroyed on the ground by a British Harrier attack. Two others were captured and sent to Europe on HMS Fearless. The British Army Air Corps decided to use their helicopters in Domestic Operations (8 AAC flights used them to support the deployment of the SAS regiment in the UK) and were very satisfied, purchasing two additional A109s which were retired in 2009.
A sale of an A109 Agusta to the Belgian armed forces in 1988 later gave rise to a bribery scandal; alleged that Agusta had given the Belgian Socialist Party more than 50 million Belgian francs to secure the sale. This scandal led to the resignation and later conviction of NATO Secretary General Willy Claes.
In August 2008, Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik broke the world lap speed record using the factory-standard AgustaWestland Grand, with a time of 11 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes. The A109S Grand is also the fastest helicopter from New York to Los Angeles.
In July 2013, the South African Air Force reported that 18 AW109s had effectively grounded for lack of funding, only occasionally being active but not taking flight. The SAAF cites a reduction in funding for helicopter operations as a grounding reason that, in 2013, only 71 flight hours were allocated for the entire AW109 fleet. Types that can be reduced to VIP flying instead of operationally capable; South Africa is also considering selling a number of AW109s, and possibly ceasing helicopter operations.
Agusta Westland AW 109 Helicopter Variant
A109A
The first production model, powered by two Allison Model 250-C20 turboshaft engines. It made its first flight on August 4, 1971. Initially, the A109 was marketed under the name "Hirundo" (Latin for swallow), but this went down within a few years.
A109A EOA, A109A Mk.II, A109A Mk.II MAX
Military version for the Italian Army. Upgraded civilian version of the A109A. Aeromedical evacuation version based on the A109A Mk.II with extra cab and wide access doors hinged up and down instead of to one side.
A109B, A109C, A109C MAX
Unbuilt military version. Eight-seat civilian version, powered by two Allison Model 250-C20R-1 turboshaft engines. Aeromedical evacuation version based on the A109C with extra-wide cab and access doors hinged up and down instead of to one side
A109D, A109E Power
Just a prototype. An upgraded civilian version, initially powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2K1 engines. Later the manufacturer introduced the option of two Pratt & Whitney PW206C engines for use - both versions remained known as the A109E. Marketed as AW109E and Power.
A109E Power Elite
The cabin version stretches from the A109E Power. It has a glass cockpit with two complete sets of pilot instruments and navigation systems, including a three-axis autopilot, an auto-coupled Instrument Landing System and GPS. There is also a Moving Map Display, weather radar and Traffic Alerting System.
A109LUH
LUH military variant "Helicopter Utility Light" based on the Power A109E. Operators include the South African Air Force, Swedish Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nigerian Air Force, as well as Algeria and Malaysia.
MH-68A
Eight A109E Power aircraft were used by the United States Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville (Jacksonville HITRON) as short-range interdiction helicopters from 2000 to 2008, when they were replaced with the MH-65C Dolphins.
Agusta designated this armed interdiction aircraft as the "Mako" until the US Coast Guard officially named it the MH-68A Stingray in 2003. HITRON configurations include rescue hoist, emergency float, FLIR, Spectrolab NightSun search light, 7.62 mm machine gun and M240D caliber. 50 semi-automatic Barrett M107 sniper rifles with laser sights.
A109K, A109K2
Military version. High-altitude and high-temperature operation with fixed wheels rather than retractable wheels of most A109 variants. Typically used by police, search and rescue, and air ambulance operators.
A109M, A109KM, A109KN, A109CM, A109GdiF, A109BA
Military version. Military version for high altitude and high temperature operations. Naval version. Military standard version. Version for Guardia di Finanza, Italy Financial Guard. Version made for the Belgian Army. Based on A109C with fixed landing gear.
A109S Grand
Marketed as the AW109 Grand, it has an upgraded civil extended cabin version with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207 engines and an extended main propeller with a different tip design from the Power version.
AW109SP, AW109 Trekkers
AW109 Grand New, IFR, TAWS and single EVS, especially for EMS. A variant of the grandnew with fixed landing glides was launched in 2014 initially for production at the United States plant.
